Monterey County Jail
Also known as: Old Monterey County Jail
Why it's listed
Two three-story reinforced concrete buildings on West Alisal Street in Salinas, an administration building at the front and a cellblock at the rear joined by a stair tower, make up the old Monterey County Jail. Designed in 1931 by Reed and Corlett in the Gothic Revival style, it has a five-bay facade divided by large buttresses, pointed window arches, wrought iron grilles and a castellated roofline that gives it the look of a fortress. Additions from the 1950s and 1960s, including a security wall, rear cell addition and elevator towers, sit mostly on secondary sides. The jail is significant for its association with Cesar Chavez, the founder of the United Farm Workers. In December 1970 he was jailed here for about 20 days after refusing a court order to end a lettuce boycott. The episode drew national attention and support to the farm workers' cause. The jail has been largely vacant since 1977.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the jail is significant for its link to Cesar Chavez, who was jailed there in December 1970 for refusing to call off a lettuce boycott against Bud Antle, Inc. His jailing drew national attention to the farm workers' movement and was the only time he was jailed for his labor activities. The administration building is also noted as a good example of Gothic Revival architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03000337, listed September 24, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 142 W. Alisal St., Salinas |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Listed | September 24, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03000337 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1970 |
| Architect / builder | Reed & Corlett, Architects and Engineers, Oakland |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Hispanic, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Functionally vacant since it was abandoned as a jail in 1977; used for records storage, with part of the rear first floor used to hold prisoners awaiting arraignment. A 2000 condition report found roof and systems deterioration and some concrete spalling, but the problems appear repairable. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 36.67329, -121.65909 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03000337.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6905304
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.